The New Neighbor

Mom!

                An hour later we pull into the hospital and Kassie runs in and gets me a wheelchair. She comes running back out and I plop myself into it. She rushes inside and I tell the lady that I am looking for Carol Young and Hardin Scott. She gives me the room number and Kassie rushes down to it. We open the door and there stands Hardin. My mom is laying on the bed and she has cuts and her face is bruised up. Hardin's face has cuts and bruises. I look at his hands and see his knuckles are split open. I get up and hop to him. I wrap my arms around his waist and cry into his chest. I feel his arms wrap around my back and he kisses my head. I go to sit down because my leg is tired and I fall to the floor. I laugh and Hardin has concern in his eyes. Kassie is laughing behind me but I don't care. Hardin picks me up and sits me in that stupid chair that I want to burn. "Thank you" I say when he removes his arms from my body. "Your welcome, I told you I would come back." He says and I smile. "I love you" I say and go to kiss him. I'm stopped when I hear my mom's voice. "Tessa?" She says in a weak voice. I grab Hardin's arms and force him to move me over to her bed. I sit next to her. "Hi mom," I say and grab her hand. A smile appears on her face. "I love you" She says then her heart beat slows down. It starts to flat line. I start to cry and shake her. "Mom?" I ask no response. "MOM WAKE UP PLEASE" I shout still nothing. I press the red button on her bed. Kassie rushes out of the room yelling nurse. Hardin is calling the front desk.

The doctor rushes in the door and I fall to the ground. Hardin picks me up and carries me out of the room. I try to get from his grip. "No, I want to go back!" I yell and he sits down and he pulls me to his chest and holds me still. I feel my cheeks burning. "What if she dies? I won't ever be able to forgive my self" I cry out and he caresses my back. "She is going to be okay" he says and Kassie holds my hand. "Do you want me to call Jasmine?" Kassie asks and I think for a moment. It would be nice to be surrounded by people I love. I just nod and she steps out of the room. "Are you okay?" I ask Hardin and wipe my eyes. "Yes, why wouldn't I be?" He responds and I shrug. "I don't know, Your face is bruised and your knuckles are split open." He looks away. "Yes I'm fine. I was protecting your mum and I took some hits to the face." He explains and I smile. "Thank you" I move to kiss him but he moves away. Does he not love me anymore? Am I ugly? Does he hate me because I put his life in danger? "I'm sorry. I- can you hand me the wheelchair? Please" I don't know what to say, But I need to leave before I cry. He helps me sit down and I wheel myself away. I leave him there in the waiting room alone. I search for Kassie and see her sitting on a bench. I go over to her and grab her hand. "Hi Tessa" She says in a sad tone. "What's wrong?" "I don't know" She says and shrugs. I know her better than she thinks. "You can tell me" I push her to tell me. I know I shouldn't but I need to know it will take my mind off Hardin. "Fine" She sighs in defeat. "Well when I called Jasmine she said she didn't want anything to do with us. She then told me she never wants to see us again and that she is moving, As if that didn't hurt enough she told Kale that I liked him and apparently he called me a whore. I don't even know what I did to Jasmine let alone you." She explains and I push myself onto the bench. I slide over to her and rest my head on her shoulder. She is crying now. "Fuck Kale and Fuck Jasmine I really don't care what she thinks, I always thought she was just using me to get good grades." I say and we both giggle. We talk for a little while when Hardin comes out. "Tess I thought you were hurt" He sits next to me and I immediately regret sitting down. "No, I was checking up on Kassie," I explain and he relaxes. "They got your mum back" He says and I sit up. "REALLY!" I shout and push him out the way. He tumbles to the ground and I giggle. I slide back into my stupid chair. "Sorry" I start to push myself away but I stop when Hardin starts to push me. "Wait" I say and he stops. "Kassie come here." I say and she walks next to me. I pull her on my lap. "Okay we can go" Kassie chuckles and Hardin rolls his eyes. When we get into the room my mom was placed in I see she is laying on the bed with her eyes closed. Kassie moves off my lap and sits on the chair. Hardin picks up and I totally forget about earlier. He sets me on the couch and sits on the other side. I lay my head in his lap and my legs stretch out to the rest of the couch. He plays with my hair and I end up falling asleep.